quite the inprint

Houston's gliterati pen a perfect story for local literacy at annual writer's ball

In a night of bibliophile glamour, Houston’s foremost literary arts nonprofit organization, Inprint, once again celebrated the art of storytelling at their 2019 Poets and Writers Ball. Thanks in part to chairs Anne and Albert Chao and the champions-of-literature guests, the Poets and Writers Ball raised more than $420,000, exceeding the goal of $375,000.

Though guests arrived at the Houstonian ready to party like a poet (and writers), the evening was also a testament to Inprint’s mission to Houston. Proceeds from the Ball will make possible Inprint community activities that serve more than 15,000 people annually, including low-cost or free literary performance programs for adults and children; writers workshops for the general public, senior citizens, K-12 teachers, veterans, healthcare providers, the incarcerated, and more; and support for more than 500 of the nation’s top creative writing students in Houston since 1983.

As a literary appetizer, three recipients of Inprint fellowships and prizes and alumni of the University of Houston Creative Writing Program entranced guests with excerpts from some of their latest work during pre-dinner intimate salon-style reading session. Thea Lim read a chapter of her acclaimed novel An Ocean of Minutes, which takes an immigration story into a science fiction, time-traveling realm. Pushcart Prize-winning author Jessica Wilbanks, shared sections from her memoir When I Spoke in Tongues: A Story of Faith and Its Loss that are set in Houston.

Award-winning poet Henk Rossouw took guests on a trip to the South Africa of his youth with a reading from his poetry collection, Xamissa.

After a dinner designed by friend-of-Inprint, James Beard Award-winning chef Robert Del Grande of Cafe Annie, Inprint director Rich Levy thanked the approximately 400 guests for their continued support of literary arts in Houston. Event co-chair, Anne Chao, then introduced the evening’s featured speaker, National Book Award finalist Min Jin Lee.

Inspiration and resilience were the themes of the gala as Lee told a true life story of how she overcame personal, physical and creative adversity to become the New York Times bestselling author of Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires. To send guests off affirming the power of words and storytelling, Lee proclaimed that we all have super powers–the ability to love and the power to persist when life and circumstances are at their most difficult.

Seen among the glittering literati were Franci Neely, Mark Wawro and Melanie Gray, and Nancy Powell Moore, Katie Dunwoody, Debbie Gary, Gwen Dawson and Ba Nguyen, Nancy C. Allen, Bettie Cartwright, Sis and Hasty Johnson, Mary and David Wolff, Candace Baggett and Ron Restrepo, Marcia Backus and Mike Hood, Randi Faust and Carl Herman, Brooke and Dan Feather, Judy and Marc Herzstein, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Sabria and Kevin Lewis, Louisa Stude Sarofim, Judy and Charles Tate, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, and Nina and Michael Zilkha; Dina Alsowayel and Tony Chase, Robin Angly and Miles Smith, Susan Baird and Leah Lax, Mary and Marcel Barone, Luba and Alan Bigman, Carolyn Russell Brock, Liz and Steve Crowell, Carolyn and Platt Davis, Mary S and Jack Dawson, Jenny Elkins, Kristina and Jeff Fort, Rachel and Bud Frazier, Eleanor and Dan Gilbane, Henneman Rau LLP, Linda and George Kelly, Caroline Kerr and Andy Lusk, Elizabeth and Albert Kidd, Bobbi and Vic Samuels, Diana Strassman and Jeff Smisek, Y. Ping Sun and David W. Leebron, Sannam and Scott Warrender, and Marcia West and Ron Lewis; Yasmine and Christie Ballantyne, Jeff Beauchamp, Karen and Mike Brisch, Trey Peacock, Laura and John Calaway, Bettie Cartwright, Theresa and Peter Chang, Judy Chapman and Terrence Doody, Susie and Joe Dilg, Nancy Dunlap, Consuelo Duroc-Danner, Annette and John Eldridge, Cece and Mack Fowler, Cullen K. Geiselman, Claire and Joe Greenberg, Lee Herrick and Norm Fluet, Madeleine Callery Hussey, Stephanie Larsen, Harriet and Truett Latimer, Beth Madison, Nancy Manderson, Sara and Bill Morgan, Nathalie and Charles Roff, Hinda Simon, Lois and George Stark, Andrea and Bill White, and Cyvia Wolff.

Readers Jessica Wilbanks, Henk Rossouw, Thea Lim.

Inprint Poets & Writers Gala 2019: essica Wilbanks, Henk Rossouw, Thea Lim

Photo by Michelle Watson, CatchLight Group

Readers Jessica Wilbanks, Henk Rossouw, Thea Lim.

Total Throwback

Prom-themed gala raises $1.16M for Children’s Museum Houston

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Prom King and Queen Will Northington and Ellen Bookout.

The halls of The Corinthian weren’t just decked out—they were decked back in time as the Children’s Museum Houston’s annual gala hit rewind for a rad throwback bash that raised a record-breaking $1.163 million. This year’s theme, “Prom Night: Party Like It’s 1999,” brought the pep rally energy and teen movie tropes to glorious, glittery life.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Prom King and Queen Will Northington and Ellen Bookout.

Forget black-tie — this was all about butterfly clips, chokers, and more rhinestones than a Claire’s clearance rack. Kathryn and Travis Boeker and Cassandra and Ryan Dalton chaired the evening, turning a philanthropic gala into prom night meets high school fever dream, thanks to over-the-top decor from Bergner & Johnson. Adding to the fundraising prowess were underwriting chairs Rebecca and Bill Adler and Blair and Barry Kessler plus auction chairs Tracy Northington and Nina Rand.

Think: Pep rally banners, oversized cootie catchers, and a full-on basketball court for a dance floor.

Guests were greeted with ring pops and neon flower crowns before entering a scene that felt straight out of Saved by the Bell. Cheerleaders and the Worthing High School drumline amped up the energy while “Coach” and “Librarian” characters kept the nostalgia — and mischief — in check. Honestly, the only thing missing was Zack Morris time-freezing to break the fourth wall.

With 460 attendees channeling their inner Cher Horowitz or Romy and Michele, the ‘90s fashion throwbacks were worthy of their own yearbook spread. A prom photo booth immortalized the lewks — awkward corsage poses and all.

The night’s culinary nostalgia trip, courtesy of Jackson & Co., hit all the right notes. A decadent short rib entrée had guests swooning, but it was dessert that stole the show: Homemade strawberry Pop-Tarts that had everyone reaching for their Tamagotchis. Later, when the real dancing started, guests recharged with late-night bites of strombolis and parmesan fries.

Because prom calories don’t count.

Auctioneer Brittany Franklin revved up the live auction like it was an AIM chat room on fire. Bidders competed for coveted prizes including a ceremonial first pitch at a Houston Astros game and a sleek six-seater Evolution Maverick golf cart. Floral stations let guests purchase corsages and boutonnieres on-site, with proceeds giving the fundraising total an extra boost.

When the time came to crown royalty, Will Northington and Ellen Bookout were named Prom King and Queen. Then came the twist: the gala co-chairs led a surprise “She’s All That”-style flash mob to Fatboy Slim’s “Rockafeller Skank,” lighting up the dance floor and making everyone feel like the main character.

The Drywater Band kept spirits high and hips moving late into the night. And when it all wrapped, guests found nostalgic treat boxes from Dessert Gallery waiting in their cars. In a full-circle moment, event blooms and extra corsages were donated to Bloom Again Houston, extending the evening’s joy to hospitals and senior centers citywide.

Summoning their inner senior superlatives and bringing serious cafeteria cool were Amir Davoody and Rana Mehr, Anita Cheung, Winnie Dodson, Ashley Sloan, Babtunde and Lacey Cole, Codi Wiener and Molly LaFauci, Crystal Robino and Jen Kavoussi, Elizabeth Cordia, Morgan Allen Neal, Mary Echols, Christine Perusquia, Georgia and Stephen Fox, Jackie and Gary Richert, Jerod and Asasia Pierce, Jessica and Fletcher Trammell, Kyle and Landi Lutz, Lindsey and Travis Wilson, Mari and Bryan Glass, Mary Morgan Stevens, Mayleen and Michael Tsang, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Nimesh and Katie Bhakta, Rachel and Shawn Gottschalk, Reed and Mary Morgan Stevens, Rodolfo and Natalie Cooper, Todd Felix, Angela Oh, Trey and Kelly Mattson, and Lane and Chita Craft.

fundraisers museums children's museum houston